Mechanism for handling tuft-yarns for carpet-looms.



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I E. F. HATHWAY E: C. LEA.

`MECHANISM FOR HANDLING TUFT YARNS FOR CARPET LOOMS.

APPucATloy FILED FEB. 12. |910.

1,153,866, Patntedsept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wm ffd/M Jim@ 1116111111 sept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHED 2.

APPLICATION FILE-u FEB. 12. 1910.

11111111111111111L1g11n111i EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, 0F DRUHESTER, AND CHARLES LEA, 0F BUSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 AMERICAN POBATIKON 0F MAINE.

WARP-DRAVVINGrY TJIACHNE COMPANY,

MECHANISM FR HANDLING- TUFT-YARN S FOR. CARPET-LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. tet, 3915.

Application led February 12, 1910. Serial No. 543,419.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that we, EDGAR F. HATHAWAY and CHARLES LEA, both citizens of the United States, and residing, respectively, at Dorchester and Boston, both in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Handling Tuft-Yarns for Carpet-Looms, (Case A,) of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for placing the tuft yarns, customarily used in the weaving of Axminster or similar carpets or rugs, through the tubes of a tube frame of the type ordinarily em-l ployed with carpet looms of this class.

Our invention is herein sho-wn as embodied in a machine wherein the tuft yarns are engaged in succession and drawn each through its appropriate tube of the tube frame.

Our invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a machine embodying one form of our invention; Fig. 2 shows in perspective a form of clamp which may be employed in connec- .tion with the machine in Fig. l; Fig. 3 shows the spool with the clamp applied thereto; Fig. 4 shows the threading needle on an enlarged scale and a sectional view of its support; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail of the latchin'g device for the clutch operating lever; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the machine sho-wn in Fig. l; Figs. 8, 9, l0 are views in perspective showing the needle in different positions; and Fig. 1l is a sectional elevation taken through the sliding needle support.

Referring to the drawings and to the particular embodiment of our invention therev frame that threading mechanism, h reiny consisting of a single reciprocatory threadplacing needle, can engage the successive tuft yarns thus held and place them each through its corresponding tube.- While the body of yarns might be held fixed and the needle traversed, herein the needle is mounted at a iXed position-lengthwise the machine and the body of yarns together with the tube frame is caused to travel past the path of the needle so that the latter at each reciprocation is caused to draw a strand or group of strands through a tube of the tube frame.

Referring to the-drawings, we have there shown in Fig. 3 a spool l adapted to carry the tuft yarns. The yarns are customarily wound thereon in a prearranged pattern on a spooling machine and, before withdrawal from such machine and severance therefrom,

the ends of the wound-on yarns are separated by having applied thereto a transverse applied thereto a cap piece or retainer 4 consisting of a U-shaped metal strip adapted to slip over the points of the teeth and close the mouthsof the slits against the exit of the yarn strands. The cap piece is -preferably so proportioned that the slits are deeper than the sides of the cap so that free longitudinal draft of the threads between the teeth is not prevented.

The cap is retained in place, after application at each end to the comb, by means of the spring tinger 5 which snaps into a seat formed in the end of the cap piece. The finger is suliiciently resilient to be readily pressed back for the withdrawal of the cap when desired. rlhe comb is provided at each end with a spring 6 or other suitable attachment member having an eye 7 adapted to be slipped over the small pintle 8 at vthe end of the` spool l so that the comb lies lengthwise against the wound-on yarns acting not only to separate the severed ends which pass through the comb, but

also as a clamp to prevent the yarns from the spool. s,

With the clamp in the position in Fig. 3 the spool with its wound-on yarns may be the unwinding of set-aside indefinitely until required for the i 1hanging loosely over .the exposededge of the clampas shown in Fig. 7.

The spool inl turn is supported by suitable carrying devices 10, depending from the ends of thetraveling carriage which latter is designated generally by 11. The spool is vheld fixed upon the traveling carriage by a presser lever 12 lat .each end, the end of the leverl being drawn down by the spring 13 against the edge of the spool r1m The carriage 11 is mounted to slide along the horizontal track bars 14 and 15', which latter are supported by hangers 16 and 17 depending from the end of the machine frame.

Prior to the installation of the yarns in the machine carriage, the tube frame 18 is placed on the carriage'as represented in Figsfl and7, the ends of the tube frame resting against the posts 11. on the carriage and the individual tubes being brought into a substantially horizontal position and into the desired alinement by engagement with the flutedlower edge of the guide bar 19. The latter is so shaped as to conform to the upper vcontour of the tubes and when the ,latter are inserted they are brought into a predetermined position by the guide bar and the posts, such that, at each successive traversing movement of the carriage, a tube is brought into direct alinement with the needle. Preferably the transfer comb is also fixed in the plate 9 by contact with a positioning pin 9X or other means, in such a position that the end strand or strands are in line with the end tube of the tube frame. A

With the tube frame and the spool installed as described, the carriage is given a traveling movement lengthwise the track bars 14 and 15 by any suitable means.

' Herein such movement is effected by means of a ratchet and pawl which moves the carriage lengthwise between each stroke of the needle by an increment equal t0 the spacing of the tubes.

Referring to the drawings, the upper edge of the guide plate 19 is toothed to form a ratchet. 20, and the latter is engaged by a suitable feeding pawl 21 carried by the pawl lever 22, the latter pivoted at the end of lthe actuating arm 23.

ITo reciprocatively move the actuating arm and thereby more the carriage, the latter at its rear, end carries a cam roll 24 adapted to engage the face cam 25 on the main driving shaft 26. At each turn of the driving shaft, which also reciprocates the needle, the actuating arm is swung about its pivot 27, the spring 28 acting to return it to its normal position. The movementof the arm and pawl is sufficient to advance-the ratchet and the carriage at each reciprocation of the needle by an amount equal to the spacing between successive tubes. The

-spring 28 is fastened to a fixed stationary arm 29 projecting from the pivot post 27.

Suitable means are -preferably provided for accurately adjusting the feeding movef l ment of the pawl and therefore the traversing movement of the carriage; At its rear end the actuating arm is split as at 32 and a threaded adjusting pin 33 is interposed between the two split ends whereby the position of the cam roll 24 relatively to the v lever can be adjusted laterally to increase or diminish the throw of the arm. There is also provided the fixed stop 34 with an adjusting stud 35 carried by the arm sothat the limit of the backward movement of the arm can also be regulated.

Power may be transmitted to themain driving shaft 26 by any suitable means, as for example, the driving pulley 36.' The latter is connected to the driving shaft through the friction clutch 37 which latter may be thrown into or out of engagement by means' of the pivoted yoke 38 engaging a grooved part of the clutch. The yoke 38 is drawn into engagement by a depression of Ithe leverv 39 (Fig. 6), which latter is connected through the depending rod 40 'toa suitable foot treadle not shown. If, during the operation of the machine it is desired to .latter fastened to the needle slide 44. The

connecting rod 45 is jointedto the end of an upright lever arm 47, the latter pivoted at 48 near the base 49 of the machine. The lever arm in turn is reciprocated by means of the connecting rod 50 fastened to the eccentric plate 51 upon the end of the driving shaft. D

'In order to permit the needle to yield in case it meets with some obstruction owing to displacement of the tube frame or other like cause, the needle is not rigidly fastened to the needle slide, but is secured (Fig. 11) to a holder 52, which has a yielding connection throw off the power, the pivoted catch '41 is.

provided whereby the clutch may be held .105 'l to the slide. This is provided by means of the spring 58 fastened one end to the holder. and the other to the slide and the depending pin 54 carried by the holder. When the slide is projected forwardly the spring allows the needle to yield if it meets with a finger 55 which (Fig. 1) carries a pin 56 designed to work within a cam slot 57 on the pivoted stripper arm 58 so that the latter is moved reciprocatively about its fixed pivot 59 and caused to strip from the needle the yarns drawn thereby through the tube. r1`he stripper arm carries at its end a curved finger 60 which is so moved by the pin 56 working in the cam slot that it passes across the point of the needle after the latter has been retracted, thereby acting to strip the drawn-in yarns therefrom. 'Ihe movement of stripper will be clear from the Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive.

In the operation of the machine, the. yarn strands as a body being held in a separated condition by the comb, the needle at each stroke is projected through a tube and its hook caused to pass by the side of the foremost strand as seen in Fig. 9. On its return the strand is engaged by the hook of the needle, drawn through the tube, and stripped therefrom by the stripper. As soon as the needle, in its retraction, clears the tube frame, the carriage is advanced by the ratchet to bring the next adjacent tube into line with the needle.

In order positively to engage the hook of the needle with the foremost yarn strand such a relative movement is provided between the needle and the body of the threads as to insure the seizure of the strand by the retracting needle. Either. the separated yarn strands as a body or the needle may be moved, but herein such movement is performed by the needle itself. For this purpose the needle is so arranged that, during its forward movement it is caused to. eXecute a quarter turn, bringing the hook into a horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 9. This turning movement of the needle is herein represented as occurring just prior to the timeit reaches the bank of yarn strands. The needle then moves past the strands and commences its return movement. With the hook in the position shown in Fig. 9 it thereby positively engages the desired strand or group of strands and draws themfree from the clamp and through the tube.

The turning of the needle may be accomplished by any desired means, but herein the shank of the needle itself is ii'attened and given a quarter spiral turn 61. The flattened shank of the needle passes through a the mouth of the tube.

fixed Slotted guide e2 Se that, es the needle i passes forward, the hook is upright. After it has passed through the tubes, however, the turned 'portion -of the shank then enters the guide, causing the needle to execute the quarter turn referred to. 0n its retraction the needle hook is again turned back to the vertical plane as soon as the spiral portion again passes through the slotted guide 62.

To permit the turning movement of the needle the shank of the latter is' secured to .the vertical head 63 (Figs. 4 and 5) which is .rotatably mounted in a seat provided between the holder 52 and a block 64 Secured thereto. In the block 64 is fixed a pin 65 to which is secured a small spring 66, the opposite end being secured to a pin 67 fixed in a groove on the head 63. The pin 65 revents longitudinal movement of the needle in its holder while the spring 66 imparts to the needle a tendency to turn right-handedly in its slotted guide 62.

In order to aline the needle positively with the tubes there is also preferably provided a needle guide 68 fixed on the frame of the machine and having a slot 69 provided with a iared mouth so that the needle, even 'though slightly displaced from a position of true alinement, will enter the slotted guide and be projected with certaintyeinto In the described machine, since the yarn strands are held as a body in a previously separated condition, it is possible to place them successively through the tubes of the tube frame with great certainty and throu h the use of relatively simple but highly ecient mechanisms.

While we have herein shown and described for purposes of illustration one specilic form of the invention, it is to be understood that the l specific embodiment herein shown is submitted for illustrative purposes only and that extensive deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. vIn a machine for tubing tuft yarns for carpet manufacture, the combination with tube holding means of a removable transfer comb for holding the body of tuft yarns in separated condition whereby they may be transferred in separated condition and applied to the machine, means for holding the comb on the machine in an alined relation to the` tube holding means to h'old the body of yarns taut and separated at the ends of the tubes, thread placing means, and means for causing said thread placing means to take the yarns from the comb and successively place them through successive tubes of\the tube frame.

` 2. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns for holding the yarns taut-and separated and` yarns, means for alining the thread placing device with the successive ltubes. and the. correspondmg yarns and for reciprocatively projecting .the same, and means for additionally moving the thread placing devicel positively to engage the yarns and take them directly from the yarn holding means.

3. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns for f carpet manufacture, the combination with means for holding a tube lframe of a removable transfer comb or holder appllcable to the machine in predetermined relation to the tubes whereby the yarns may be transferred and applied to the machine in a condition of v predetermined separation, and maintained in an alined relation to the'tubes, a thread placing device, means for causing relative traverse between the`thread placing device on the one hand and the yarnsand tubes on the other hand to cause the alinement of the thread placing device with successive tubes and the corresponding alined yarns, means for causing the threadplacing device to act successively upon the alined yarn strands, and means for causing relative movement between the needle and a given yarn strand to provide for positive engagement of the latter by the former and for the taking of the yarns by the thread-placing device directly from the comb. y

4. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns for carpet manufacture, the combination with means for holding a tube frame of a removable transfer comb or holder applicable to the machine in predetermined relation to the tubes whereby the yarns may be transferred and applied to the machine in a condition of predetermined separation, and maintained thereon in an alined relation to the tubes, a thread placing device, means for causing relative traverse between the thread placing device on the one hand and the yarns and tubes on the other hand to cause the alinement of the thread placing device with successive tubes and the corresponding alined yarns, means for causing the thread placing device to act successively upon the alined yarn strands, and means for causing relative movement between the needle and the body of yarn strands to provide positive engagement of a yarn strand by the needle and the taking of the yarn strands by the needle directly from the comb.

5. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture, the combination with means for holding a tube frame with its tubes of a removable comb or holder, said holder being applicable to the machine in ,predetermined relation to the tubes whereby yarns may be transferred and applied to the machine in a predetermined condition of with the alined tubes and yarns, and meansv for successively taking said alined yarn strands from the holder and placing them through thecorresponding tubes.

6. In a machlne for `tubing tuft yarns for carpet manufacture, the combination with' means for holding the tubes of a tube frame, of a removable toothed retainer for `holding the yarn strands separated, said retainer being applicable to the machine in predetermined relation to the tubes whereby the yarn strands may beY transferred and applied to the machine in predetermined conditiony of separation and predetermined placing device, means for causing relative movement between the thread placing de- ,alinement relatively to the tubes, a thread 4 vice and the tubes and for successively alinl ing the thread placing device withsuccessive tubes and corresponding yarn strands, and means for causing the said thread placing device successively to take thei said yarn strands from the retainer and place them through successive tubes of the tube frame.

7. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns for carpet manufacture, the combination with means for holding the tubes of a tube frame,

means for holding the yarns in the machine in separated arrangement and in predetermined relation to the corresponding tubes, a

thread placing device, feeding means for causing relative movement between the thread placing device and tube holding means to cause alinement .between the said device and successive tubes and yarns, means for .projecting the thread placing device through a tu'be and means for turning the said thread placing device while in the tube positivelyl to engage a yarn strand and take the same directly from the said1 holding means.

8. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns for carpet manufacture, the combination with means for holding the tubes of a tube frame of a removable transfer device for holding the body of tuft yarns in separated conditionwhereby they may be transferred in separated conditionand applied to the machine, means for holding the said device in predetermined relation with reference to the tube holding means, a thread placing device, means for causing relative movement between the same and the tubes and ,to aline said device with successive tubes and the corresponding yarn strands, means for causing said device to engage successive yarn strands and place the same through the cor responding tubes and means for turning said device positively to secure a given yarn strand when engaging the same and take said strand directly from the transfer'dev1ce.-

9. In a machine for thread tuft yarns through the tubes of a tube frame forear- -pet looms,.the combination with a support for the spool, a support for the tubes, means for supporting the yarns adjacent the tubes separated and in predetermined relation thereto, a thread placing device, means for alining the thread placing device With successive tubes and for reciprocating the same through successive tubes to take the yarns directly from said yarn supporting means, and place them through the tubes, and means providing for an additional -movement of the needle positively to seize the yarn.

10. In a machine for threading tuft yarns through the tubes of a tube frame for carpet looms, the combination with meansfor holding the tubes, means for holdin the yarns lin separated condition in pre etermined relation to the tubes, a thread placing device, means for causing thethread placing' device to aline successively with successive tubes, means for causing the thread placing device to engage successive yarn strands to take them directly om said yarn holding means and place them through the corresponding tubes, and means providing for the further relative movement between the thread placing device and the body of yarn strands to cause positive engagement of the latter by the former.

' 11. In a machine for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture, the combination with means for holding the tubes of a tube frame,v

means for holding the yarns in separated condition and in predetermined relation to the said tubes, yarn engaging means, meansI for causing the same to engage lthe yarn strands in succession to take them directly l,

names to this specilication, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses. Y

ED AR F. HATHAWAY. CHARLES LEA. Witnesses:

THOMAS B. BOOTH, ROBERT H. KAMMLER. 

